BFUTISH COLUMBIA Ministry of Employment and Investment Energy and Minerals Division Geological Survey Branch BARITE IN BRITISH COLUMBIA By S.B. Butrenchuk, P.Geol., and K.D. Hancock, P.Geo. OPEN FILE 1997-16 BRITISH COLUMBIA Ministry of Employment and Investment Energy and Minerals Division Geological Survey Branch BARITE IN BRITISH COLUMBIA By S.B. Butrenchuk, P.Geol., and K.D. Hancock, P.Geo. OPEN FILE 1997-16 Canadian Cataloguing in Publication Data Butrenchuk, S.B. Barite in British Columbia (Open file, ISSN 0835-3530) Issued by Geological Survey Branch. Includes bibliographical references: p. ISBN 0-7726-3157-3 1. Barite - British Columbia. 2. Geology, Economic - British Columbia. I. Hancock, Kirk, D. II. British VICTORIA Columbia. Ministry of Employment and Investment. IV. BRITISH COLUMBIA Title. V. Series: Open file (British Columbia. Geologkd CANADA Survey Branch). TN948.Bl8B87 1997 54Y.752 C97-96CXI33-2 MARCH 1997 . Table of Contents CHAPTER 1 FORWARD ........................................................................................................................................ 1 INTRODUCTION.................................................................................................................................... 1 Properties of Barite............................................................................................................................ 2 Geochemistry .................................................................................................................................... 2 Uses of Barite .................................................................................................................................... 3 Specifications.................................................................................................................................... 3 Beneficiation ..................................................................................................................................... 4 Classification of Barite Deposits ........................................................................................................ 4 Bedded: Shale and Carbonate-hosted .......................................................................................... 5 Fracturecontrolled, Replacement and Manto .............................................................................. 5 Volcanogenic.............................................................................................................................. 5 Accessory Barite ......................................................................................................................... 5 Marketing ......................................................................................................................................... 6 Acknowledgements ........................................................................................................................... 9 CHAPTER 2 BEDDED BARITE DEPOSITS ................................................................................................. 11 Shale-hosted Stratiform Bodies........................................................................................................ 11 Description of Occurrences .Central British Columbia............................................................. 11 Bow ................................................................................................................................... 11 Cunningham Creek............................................................................................................ 11 Northern British Columbia ....................................................................................................... 12 Description of Occurrences - Kechika Trough .......................................................................... 16 Cirque, Stronsay ................................................................................................................ 17 Fluke ................................................................................................................................. 19 Elf ..................................................................................................................................... 20 Dog ................................................................................................................................... 20 Gnome............................................................................................................................... 20 Gin .................................................................................................................................... 20 Del .................................................................................................................................... 22 Pie ..................................................................................................................................... 22 Yule .................................................................................................................................. 24 Em .................................................................................................................................... 24 CT ..................................................................................................................................... 24 Sika ................................................................................................................................... 27 Kwadacha.......................................................................................................................... 27 Mount Alcock .................................................................................................................... 27 North Kwad ....................................................................................................................... 28 Bear ................................................................................................................................... 28 Driftpile Creek................................................................................................................... 28 Saint, Roen ........................................................................................................................ 30 Bob .................................................................................................................................... 36 Rough ................................................................................................................................ 36 X ....................................................................................................................................... 36 Open File 1997-16 iii . Description of Occurrences .Midway-Cassiar Area .................................................................. 36 Midway ............................................................................................................................. 36 Ewen ................................................................................................................................. 38 Blue ................................................................................................................................... 38 Chief North ....................................................................................................................... 41 Chief Southwest ................................................................................................................. 41 Jan ..................................................................................................................................... 42 ET ..................................................................................................................................... 42 Carbonate-hosted Stratiform Bodies ................................................................................................ 42 Description of Occurrences....................................................................................................... 42 BV ..................................................................................................................................... 42 Mo ..................................................................................................................................... 44 Mun ................................................................................................................................... 46 Shawn ............................................................................................................................... 46 CHAPTER 3 FRACTURE.CONTROLLED. REPLACEMENT AND MANTO DEPOSITS ......... 51 Fracturecontrolled Deposits............................................................................................................ 51 Description of Occurrences .Southeastern British Columbia .................................................... 51 Dave .................................................................................................................................. 51 Phillips Creek .................................................................................................................... 53 Fenster Creek .................................................................................................................... 53 Outlier Ridge ..................................................................................................................... 53 Cauldrey Ridge .................................................................................................................